Out This Week 9/20

Okay, it’s not quite the mega-list like last week’s roundup of new releases, but there’s plenty to choose from this week too. Topping the list is Pearl Jam Twenty, the motion picture soundtrack to the Cameron Crowe-directed concert film/insider band profile chronicling the rise and resilience of this quintessential Seattle band. Thousands of hours of footage have been concentrated into this definitive bio pic inspired by The Kids Are Alright, Jeff Stein’s movie on The Who. The PJ20 soundtrack is a sweet two-disc set with one disc gathering live highlights recorded around the world over the last twenty years, and the other collecting “Rarities and inspiration…”, meaning lots of demos, instrumentals, and less iconic but more intriguing live selections. It’s all nicely packaged with lots of photos, notes and an intro by Cameron Crowe, all tailored to the PJ fans that may already have everything!

Among other notable new releases this week is the latest from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, their first album after a four-year hiatus and their third overall. Our Music Director, Don Yates, calls it “their most unabashedly pop-oriented recording to date, combining jangly guitars, sweeping synths, propulsive rhythms, dark lyrics and Alec Ounsworth’s nasal vocals (which sound smoother than ever here) into euphoric New Waveish rockers spiked with soaring pop hooks and anthemic choruses.” In other words, it was worth the wait! You’ll also find a new album of orchestral folk-pop by Seattle’s Cataldo, a new project debut from former Port O’Brien frontman Van Pierszalowski called WATERS, and another debut of dark, lo-fi beach-pop from England’s Veronica Falls.

The Jim Jones Revue‘s 2010 album Burning Your House Down is finally available in the U.S. this week, along with new albums from Megafaun, Nurses, and Tammar. You’ll also find new EPs from Swedish songwriter Jens Lekman, who returns after a bit of a delay from his much acclaimed previous LP, and post punk-influenced noise-pop from San Francisco band Weekend.

There are a lot of other great bands here, including Portland bands White Orange and Richmond Fontain, Espers’ singer Meg Baird, The Jayhawks, Tori Amos, Vancouver The Pack A.D., supergroup SuperHeavy, and a lot more. Check out Largehearted Boy’s list for a more thorough list, but not before sampling these new releases first: